A new Canadian study has linked increased screen time with delayed development in children, adding new fuel to the debate over how long is too long for kids to spend in front of their electronic devices.
Researchers from the University of Waterloo, University of Calgary and Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute said toddlers who spent more time watching a screen at 2 years old did worse on developmental markers than those who spent less time watching a screen.
“What is new in this study is that we are studying really young children, so aged 2-5, when brain development is really rapidly progressing and also child development is unfolding so rapidly,”
The authors of the study, who tested 2,400 children, say parents should be cautious about how long they allow their kids to spend on their devices.
In the study, 2-year-olds spent about 17 hours a week in front of a screen. That amount increased to 25 hours a week at 3 before falling to 11 hours a week at 5-years-old.
